Combination bar and cabinet for doors



Feb. 4, 1941. w GRATZ 2,230,975

COMBINATION BAR AND CABINET FOR DOORS Filed Nov. 25, 1938 INVENTOR Mr W. GRATZ ATTORN Patented Feb. 4, 1941. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank W. Gratz, Pelham Manor. N. Y., assignor to- Howard E. Thompson, Jr., Westileld, N. J.

Application November 23, 1938, Serial No 241,890 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-113) This invention relates to cabinets which are constructed primarily for use upon one side surface of a door to provide a convenient, practical combination service bar and cabinet for use primarily in the home and especially where limited room or floor space is available for a cabinet of this general type and kind; and the object of the invention is to provide a combination device or apparatus of the character defined comprising a mounting board or panel adapted to be attached to one side surface of a door at the lower portion thereof whereby in swinging the door into a room or compartment, the cabinet may be opened or extended to form a combination bar and service cabinet of convenient height to facilitate serving drinks of various types and kinds; a further object" being to provide a cabinet of the character described wherein the bar portion thereof comprises a part hingedly coupled with the mounting plate or board and which forms, when extended or moved into angular position with respect to said plate or board, a top service counter of the bar structure as well as a lower article supporting table; and further wherein said table comprises a hingedly supported leaf adapted when the cabinet is closed, to be moved into a collapsed position; a still further object being to provide means spaced vertically on they mounting plate or board for supporting various types of glasses as well as container to render said glasses and containers readily accessible when the cabinet is in open position; a still further object being to provide means on the bar portion of the device for supporting various accessory articles and/or containers in connection therewith; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is assectional plan view showing one of my improved devices in an open position and diagrammatically illustrating one method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views showing different types of supporting brackets or shelving employed in the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating one adaptation 5 and use of my invention, I have diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a cross section of a closet I0 having a front door opening ll, closed by a hinged door l2, the closet Ill being of a type built into and forming part of the 10 wall structure l3 of a building, as is common in the average apartments or in the rooms of a home. At i4 is represented one of my improved door bars; that is to say, combination bar and cabinet device which as illustrated, is shown as 15 supported upon the inner surface of the door [2 so as to normally extend into the closet I0 when the door is in closed position so as to be invisible in the room in which said closet is arranged. It will be understood, however, that in moving the 20 door into open position, the bar is extended into the room and is readily accessible for the service of the desired drink or refreshment to be served.

The combination device ,of the character described comprises a mounting plate or board l5 2 which is secured in any desired manner upon the surface of a door, as for example by screws It. The plate is arranged at the lower portion of the door so as to dispose the bar portion l! of the device or at least the top counter portion l8 there- 30 of at a convenient and more or less standard height with respect to the floor while at the same time maintaining a table portion 20 at a substantially normal table height.

The bar portion I'l comprises a semi-circular 35 top plate 2! having an upper counter facing 22 of stainless steel or other suitable material, and a correspondingly semi-circular bottom plate 23 and narrower intermediate plates 24 and 25 which are also curved at the outer surface thereof to 4 seat snugly upon a semi-circular outlet shell 26, also preferably composed of metal and may be painted or plated or composed of stainless steel or similar material, and in some other forms of construction, may be made of fibre board, ply- 45 wood, or the like., The free edges of the semicircular shell 26 are secured to and reinforced by vertical strips 2lto which the top and bottom members 2|, 23 ,are also secured.

The bottom member 23 in addition to forming 50 a closure for the bottom of the bar, also provides a shelf for the storage of bottles or other accessories such as ice-buckets and the like, or may be used for the storage of various types of food products including the various accessory 55 spirits, fluids and fruits or fruit juices used in the various types and kinds of drinks or refreshments. Another similar supporting shelf is formed by the member 25 and front wall portions 23a and 25a are provided on both shelves 23, 25 to retain articles against displacement therefrom.

The .member 24 forms a continuation of the table 20, the other part 24a of which being hingedly coupled with the part 24 as at 28 so that when the bar portion l! is collapsed onto the plate I 5, the table part 24a will be moved into the raised dotted line collapsed position, in which position it is retained by a suitable catch device as indicated at 29. It will also appear 'that chains 30 are employed to support the table part 24a in its extended operative position. It will further appear that the inner fixed portion 24 of the table 20 will also form an article support for additional glasses or for various accessory devices commonly employed in cabinets of the type and kind under consideration.

The bar section I! is hinged to one side of the plate I 5 as indicated at 3|, and a suitable snap and key lock 32 is provided at the other free side of the bar for locking the bar I! against opening with respect to the plate I 5 by engaging the latch and lock plate 33 arranged on the plate or bar I5, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. It will be apparent that when the table portion 24a is in its collapsed position, it is disposed in alinement with the flanges 23a, 25a leaving a relatively deep compartment at the inner surface of the bar so as to accommodate a plurality of glasses, bottles and the like supported on the outer surface of the mounting board or plate I 5: that is to say the surface which is outward with respect to the door or other support. At this time, it is well to bear in mind that while the device as constructed is adapted primarily for use upon a door for the convenient and invisible mounting thereof, it will be understood that the device may be mounted on any door or in fact upon a wall, or upon any other supporting surface.

In the construction shown, I have indicated a few types and kinds of brackets or shelving for supporting glasses, bottles and the like upon the plate or board l5. At 34, Fig. 4 of the drawing, is shown a U-shaped bracket made preferably from wire, and consisting of a U-shaped frame having a series of angular and upstanding arm portions 35 terminating at their upper ends in ring-like heads. which heads and the arms 35 are preferably rubber covered or coated with any other cushioning material so as to silence as well as to protect the mounting of whiskey glasses or the like 31 thereon as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5, I have shown at 38 another form of wire bracket consisting of a rod having a series of U-shaped resilient clips 39 which are also cushioned and are adapted to receive and support cordial glasses 40' or cocktail glasses 4| in an inverted position as seen in Fig.2 of the drawing. It will be understood that the whiskey glasses 3'! are also arranged in an inverted position. 'The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent dust or other foreign matter from collecting in the glasses. This also applies to the highball glasses 42 and old-fashioned glasses 43 which are also illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The glasses 42 are supported in an openwork rack shelf 44 illustrated in part in Fig. 6 of the drawing and constructed to form at the top thereof a plurality of glass-receiving stalls 45 having the openwork bottoms 46 which will support the glasses while at the same time expose the same to prevent displacement atmosphere. This type of shelf construction is also used in supporting the glasses 43.

It will of course be apparent that my invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of the various glass supporting brackets or shelves. nor to any particular type or kind of glasses arranged thereon, and these may be constructed to suit the views of a manufacturer or the desires of a customer.

In Fig. 'I of the drawing I have shown a part of another type of shelving which is employed for supporting bottles or other containers at the lower portion of the plate 15. In the construction shown, this consists of a shelf plate 4'! above which is arranged a U-shaped rail 48 having a series of spaced partitions 49 forming bottle receiving stalls or compartments 5!) for supporting bottles of various kinds and classes in the manner partially illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

It will of course be understood that the outward projection of the various brackets and shelves arranged upon the plate or board I5 is within the depth of the chamber which is formed outwardly of the flanges 23a, 25a so that these flanges together with the collapsed table part 24a will not interfere with said brackets and shelves.

It will also be apparent that the upper edge 26a of the semi-circular housing 26 extends above the upper surface of the bar counter 50 as to provide a retaining flange which will prevent accidental displacement of glasses or other articles mounted upon said counter in the operation of serving the same. It will also appear that the drop table 24a extends inwardly beyond the inner edge of the bar counter so as to render this table freely accessible to the server.

A combination bar cabinet device of the type and kind under consideration, may be completely in shipment, means will be provided to prevent displacement of the various glasses employed or if desired, these may be packed and wrapped and then stored in the compartments provided by the shelves 23, 25 and by the fixed table portion 24. On the other hand, suitable packing means or filler may be employed to retain the glasses in their various positions as illustrated in Fig. 2 to in the handling thereof.

By constructing the bar portion of the device in the semi-circular contour, the device will 0ccupy the least amount of room in a closet when the device is used as illustrated in Fig. 1 so as not to interfere to any appreciable degree with clothing or other articles that may be arranged in the closet.

While my improved device may be used in dif ferent manners and in connection with different supports, it is designed primarily for use upon the inner surface of the closet door so as to render the same invisible when not in use and to maintain the full capacity of room by disposing the device in a closetor other storage compartment, whereas when it is desired to use the device, the door will move the same into the room to render the bar readily accessible. As a matter of fact, the bar proper projects into the room beyond the free end of the door, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

It will of course be apparent that the arrangement of the glasses upon the mounting board or plate i5 will be such as to clear the swinging or drop table 240, as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. It will also be apparent that the plate or board i5 constitutes in reality a door or closure for the inner open end of the bar portion I! or the hollow body which forms said bar portion, while at the same time forming the means for mounting theentire device upon a suitable support.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bar and table cabinet for mounting on a vertical supporting surface, said cabinet comprising a hollow body portion of substantially conventional counter height and a mounting plate hingedly secured to said body portion along one edge of the inner open side thereof forming a closure for said body portion when the cabinet is in closed or collapsed position, the top wall of said body portion forming a service counter, a shelf within said body portion below said service counter, a member hingedly coupled to said shelf, and said member when the cabinet is in extended position being arranged in a position of alinement with said shelf to form in conjunction therewith an enlarged work table extending from the front of said cabinet through the inner open side thereof beyond the inner edge of said service counter thereby forming between said extended body portion and mounting plate a convenient bar nook or corner.

2. A combination bar and storage cabinet comprising a hollow body open at one side thereof and an elongated door plate hingedly coupled with one side of the body and normally forming a closure for the inner open side thereof in the collapsed position of the cabinet, said plate being adapted for attachment to a vertical supporting surface to constitute an integral part thereof and to provide relative swinging movement of the bar toward and from said supporting surface, said hollow body being of substantially normal bar or counter height whereby the top wall of said body forms a convenient service counter, a plurality of shelves within said hollow body disposed at the front portion thereof leaving a relatively deep chamber throughout the entirety of the inner open side of said body, means for supporting predetermined articles on the surface of said mounting plate, said means facilitating the use of substantially the complete volume of said hollow body for storage purposes when said cabinet is in closed or collapsed position, and said means in conjunction with said shelves forming a fitted service bar nook or corner between said plate and hollow body when the same are in extended position.

3. A combination bar and storage cabinet comprising a hollow body open at one side thereof and an elongated door plate hingedly coupled with one side of the body and normally forming a closure for the inner open side thereof in the collapsed position of the cabinet, said plate being adapted for attachment to a vertical supporting surface to constitute an integral part thereof and to provide relative swinging movement of the bar toward and from said supporting surface, said hollow body being of substantially normal bar or counter height whereby thet'op wall of said body forms a convenient service counter, a plurality of shelves within said hollow body disposed at the front portion thereof leaving a relatively deep chamber throughout the entirety of the inner open side of said body, means for supporting predetermined articles on the surface of said mounting plate, said means facilitating the use of substantially the complete volume of said hollow body for storage purposes when said cabinet is in closed or collapsed position, said means in conjunction with said shelves forming a fitted service bar nook or corner between said plate and hollow body when the same are in extended position, a closure means for the compartment formed by one of said shelves, and said closure means being pivoted to said shelf and adapted when in the open position to form in conjunction with said shelf an enlarged work table below said service counter protruding through the inner open side of said hollow body beyond the inner, edge of said counter.

, FRANK W. GRATZ. 

